Untitled Document

-more-

Ohio
State\'s news, experts and events give you more on the news

News

University Hospitals nursing department awarded Magnet designation
The American Nurses Association has awarded its coveted Magnet designation to The Ohio State University Hospitals nursing department. An achievement on par with winning an Olympic gold medal, fewer than 3 percent of the hospitals in the United States have received the Magnet designation, which recognizes the high-caliber nursing staff in addition to nursing education and research achievements. Fewer than 140 hospitals nationwide have been successful in receiving Magnet status, and University Hospitals is the only hospital in central Ohio with the designation.
Hospitals designated as recipients of Magnet status must demonstrate to a panel of impartial nursing experts their continuing practice of stringent quality patient care standards, innovation and other criteria that demonstrate the organizations commitment to providing a nurturing environment to nurses. Cheryl Hoying, administrator of patient care at University Hospital, says the achievement is good news for patients and for those seeking nursing jobs at the hospital.
Contact: David Crawford, Medical Center Communications, 614-293-3737.

Research

Indian herb may treat diabetes like prescription drugs
An Ohio State University researcher has found that an herb used in traditional Indian medicine to treat diabetes seems to lower blood sugar and insulin levels in a manner similar to prescription drugs. Researchers gave extracts of the herb Salacia oblonga to 39 healthy adults, and the results were promising. A 1,000 mg. dose of the herb extract decreased insulin levels in healthy adults by 29 percent and blood glucose levels by 23 percent. Steve Hertzler, assistant professor of nutrition at Ohio State, says the reductions are similar to what we might see with prescription oral medications for people with diabetes. The herb is native to regions of India and Sri Lanka. Contact: Steve Hertzler, 614-292-5575; Hertzler.4@osu.edu. See http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/saloblo.htm

Events

United Black World Month offers lectures, music and freedom ride.
“Obtaining Freedom through Unity” is the theme for Ohio State’s 34th annual celebration of United Black World Month, which features educational programs that highlight African American history and culture throughout February. Events this week include
February 15 *“The Politics of Education: Tolerance and Rejection, Understanding the Somali Community in Columbus,” 2 p.m. tomorrow (2/15) in Ramseyer Hall, 29 W. Woodruff Ave. Khadar Bashir-Ali, visiting professor of education, will lead a two-hour workshop on the issues and concerns of Somali immigrants in Columbus.
February 16 *An Evening of Art Songs and Spirituals, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, (2/16) in Weigel Auditorium, 1866 College Road. Lyric soprano Janice Chandler-Eteme presents this concert as part of the President’s and Provost’s Diversity Lecture and Cultural Arts series.
February 19 *Freedom Ride to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 8 a.m. Saturday (2/19). The trip will include a visit to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and a soul food dinner.
February 21 *Rubin Carter – the “Hurricane,” 6:30 p.m. Monday (2/21) in the Ohio Union Conference Theater, 1739 N. High St. Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, a championship boxer wrongly imprisoned for murder in 1966, will discuss his 20-year battle for freedom and the racial unrest that erupted nationally. Contact: Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276

Events commemorate Japanese American Internment – Feb. 17, 24, March 10.
Ohio State’s Asian American Studies Program invites the public to learn about the history of the Japanese American Internment Camps of World War II with a series of public events. On February 19, 1942 President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 authorizing the incarceration of approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans who were forced to leave their homes, possessions, and friends behind and report to the camps. Events this week include excerpts of “Big Head” by performance artist Denise Uyehara at 7 p.m. on Thursday (2/17) at Mount Hall Auditorium, 1050 Carmack Road. On Feb. 24, Cleveland State professor Masumi Hayashi will discuss the family album snapshots she collected in “Portraits: Heroes, Icons, and Family Album Snapshots” at 9:30 a.m. in 371 Journalism Building, 242 W. 18th Ave. The capstone event is “Faces from the Past, Voices of the Present,” a program of student-created documentaries and performance art based on their interviews with former internees who currently live in Ohio. The presentations will take place at 4 p.m. on March 10 at the Frank Hale Cultural Center, 153 W. 12th Ave. Contact: Judy Wu, professor of history and coordinator of Asian American Studies Program,wu.287@osu.edu, 614-292-9331;

Workshop All About Restoring Ohio History – Feb. 21-22. Good farmers know never to waste anything, and that includes old farm buildings. The Ohio Barn Workshop, sponsored in part by Ohio State Extension, offers barn owners, enthusiasts and contractors the tools to restoring and maintaining old barns – which is often more cost-effective than tearing them down and building new structures. The event, held in conjunction with the National Barn Alliance annual meeting, is Feb. 21-22 at Westerville’s Everal Barn, a restored 1890s Victorian-style barn, listed in the National Register of Historic Places and owned by Westerville’s Department of Parks and Recreation. The workshop will cover the history and structural engineering of barns, as well as economic incentives for restoration and property tax issues. Contact: Carol Moody, Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering office assistant, 614-292-1851 or moody.5@osu.edu, or Ann Christy, FABE associate professor, 614-292-3171 or christy.14@osu.edu.

The person listed as Contact will have the best information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story – Elizabeth Conlisk, (614) 292-3040; Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276; Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385, and Shannon Wingard, (614) 247-6821.